NATIONAL CHAMPIONS! Varsity Eight Captures Grand Final

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - It was a glorious day for the Yale varsity eight on the final day of the NCAA Championships on Melton Hill Lake. The Bulldogs captured the national championship in a thrilling Grand Final, finishing the 2,000-meter course in 6:37.08, nearly two seconds ahead of second-place Ohio State. It is Yale's first national title at the NCAAs.

"I'm just so proud of these women," said Yale Head Coach Will Porter. "They held up under tremendous pressure coming in as the favorite."

The victory completes a dream season for the Bulldogs, who went undefeated and captured the Eastern Sprints and Ivy League titles. The perfect season was the Bulldogs' first since 1979, which was before the NCAA Championships began. Yale also won the national title that year, but racing was only 1,000 meters.

"It's been a great run," said senior Rachel Jeffers, the team captain and stroke of the varsity eight. "I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Today is icing on the cake."

Yale and USC were virtually tied with 500 meters to go, but the Bulldogs edged out in front in the final 500 meters. Ohio State finished second in 6:38.77, followed by USC (6:39.45), Brown (6:39.55), Virginia (6:41.50) and Princeton (6:45.38).

"It was a really challenging race," said Geiser, a senior who sat in the No. 6 seat. "At the end of the race I had exerted so much energy I couldn't even remember my name."

The Bulldogs actually got off to a bit of a rocky start, nearly catching a crab (an oar blade getting stuck) out of the blocks. Still, Yale led at both the 500 and 1,000-meter marks.

"It was the worst start we've had all season, but we immediately refocused," said Cleveland, the coxswain. "At the end we just kept inching out and inching out."

As a team, Yale placed fourth with 51 points, the second best finish in school history. The Bulldogs were second in 2004. Brown won the team title with 58 points, followed by Virginia (54) and Ohio State (52).

"Anytime you finish in the top five at an NCAA Championship, you should be proud," Porter said.